Music Existence Because of Music, We Exist
Mississippi Rail Company’s unique blend of soulful blues breathes fresh, youthful energy into classic New Orleans roots music – USA TODAY describes the band as “a young four-piece band that’s putting a fresh spin on R&B […] citing influences such as blues singer Taj Mahal and jazz great Dr. John”
The band’s acclaimed live performance style has landed them supporting gigs across the southern U.S. with Rebirth Brass Band, Soul Rebels Brass Band, Papa Mali, The Revivalists, Flow Tribe, and Lost Bayou Ramblers.
Mississippi Rail Company is one of New Orleans’ most prominent rising local acts. The band sold out their headlining Launch Party in January and followed it up by landing an opening slot for the Soul Rebels Rebels Brass Band at the legendary Tipitina’s just a week later. The sold out Launch Show revealed the band’s 2014 Singles Project, for which the band is releasing one new track every month of 2014. The first track “Big, Bad Wolf” was released in January on Relix.com, the second track “Milky Way” premiered with a new music video on ArtistDirect in February, and the third track “Chocolate Pie” on USA TODAY in April.
Mississippi Rail Company’s acclaimed live performance style has landed them impressive festival slots at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Voodoo Fest, Hogs for the Cause, and Crawfest at Tulane University, plus supporting gigs across the southern U.S. with Rebirth Brass Band, Soul Rebels Brass Band, Papa Mali, The Revivalists, Flow Tribe, and Lost Bayou Ramblers.
Mississippi Rail Company attributes their band name to the Delta Blues region that inspires them. “Mississippi is essentially the birthplace of American music, and that’s what we like to play: American music,” Geoffray says. “The ‘rail company’ aspect is based off our journey, traveling throughout the South and picking up all the different sounds and influences along the way.”
The complex songwriting style Geoffray exercises is rooted in years of studying New Orleans piano under the great Tom McDermott, featured prominently playing himself in HBO’s Treme Season 1. Under McDermott, Geoffray studied the styles of New Orleans’ renowned pianists – soaking up everything the music of Fats Domino, Dr. John, Professor Longhair, Scott Joplin and James Booker could teach.
The band’s 2014 Singles Project is a follow-up to their debut full-length release, Coal Black Train. Geoffray sees the goal of the singles project as a means to create songs without the confines that albums present. “We want listeners to hear each track individually rather than hear the songs in relation to each other off a collective work” explains Geoffray. With 12 months of new tunes, the band will have the opportunity to explore new ground and feature various instrumentation and genres; blues, swing, gospel, big band and more.
